Nicky woke me up early the next morning for his cuddle so there was absolutely no way I could over lay meeting Jake at 11.30 later in the day.

Eventually Emily collected him and I did the new routine of opening the back door for Snow before getting her breakfast while she was outside. She seemed pleased with just coming inside and having her food waiting for her. I went upstairs and fed Buck before waving Emily and Nicky off.

I went in the shower, washed my hair and then tied it into the familiar ponytail. I dusted powder on my face, slicked a light layer of mascara on my eyelashes and then dressed in a pink tank with a white vest underneath it with denim shorts, my familiar cream hoodie and my black and pink babysham skater shoes.

I didn't skate personally but I had picked up on some surfing in California. Living by the sea sure had it's values. I scrunched Snow's ears with a goodbye and left the house. I jumped down the front steps and the only warning that I was about to crash into Jake was the fact that his scent hit my nose mid-leap.

As I predicted, I slammed into him bodily and sent us both sprawling across the pavement. Once I'd recovered I realised he'd got one arm wrapped around my waist and the other seemed to be protecting the back of my head from any impact it may have. I peeled myself off him quickly; brushing myself off.

'I'm so sorry Jake. I didn't even realise you were there' I stammered

'No worries' He groaned 'I don't often get tackled by pretty girls so well done'

I ignored his comment and offered him an arm. He took it and I pulled him up easily, realising after I'd done it, it probably hadn't been a very good move. He very calmly didn't even bat an eyelid.

'Sooo my two friends Trixie and Spud can't make it. Trixie's Dad is in town and he only gets a short amount of time off before he gets deployed again and Spud has to work in his Mom's restaurant' Jake paused, his hands in his pockets 'It's just us'

'Okay' I agreed easily 'What did you have in mind?'

'I'm assuming you've seen most places anyway seeing as you've been coming in and out of New York for awhile but have you been to the natural history museum?' He asked

I blinked in surprise, not having him down as the museum type. I shook my head.

'No, I've never been in there' I said

'Well, you're in for a treat then. Come on it's on the other side of the park so we've got quite a walk' Jake said with a smirk

I nodded and followed him. We chattered as we walked. Now that I'd gotten used to him and things weren't awkward, conversation between us flowed easily.

He revealed he'd been raised in New York all his life with his parents and his sister. He seemed to have spent an awful lot of time with his Grandpa, Lao Shi and his two friends he had mentioned.

'Are you close then?' I asked

'Yeah, we're pretty tight me and my Gramps. Trixie and Spud have always got my back too, they're the best friends anyone could've wanted' Jake said

I smiled

'What about you?' Jake asked 'You and your sister seem good'

'Oh yeah, I don't think I could live without her or Nicky in my life. I had a few friends in California but no one like what your friends sound like, I was close but I suppose I never really gelled with anyone' I replied

I was bracing myself for the inevitable question that had come to plague me whenever I met anyone new. But Jake didn't ask about my parents, he nodded his head politely and smiled. He asked about Nicky's Dad though.

'Pete' I paused 'I suppose he's good really, I mean, he supports Emily financially even though he doesn't have to because they're not married and gives her money towards Nicky. I just wish he had a job that allowed him to be here for her physically more often'

'What do you mean?' Jake asked

I sighed 'We lost our mother two years ago in spring and he couldn't get any time to come to support her, not to mention she was seven months pregnant with Nicky at the time too. He did wire her some extra money though and they allowed him home after she had Nicky but he missed the actual birth. In the end her Dad flew from England and helped with the arrangements and he chipped in a bit himself and came back when she had Nicky'

'Her Dad?' Jake asked

'Yeah her Dad' I replied

He didn't ask and I didn't tell. In the end he stopped and looked around. I watched him, an eyebrow raised.

'Isn't it a lovely day?' He asked

I raised both eyebrows once he said that 'Err, I suppose so'

'And we're gonna go to a museum. Uh uh, I don't think so. Why don't we go and fetch your dog instead and just walk in the park?' Jake asked

I lowered one eyebrow again and he smirked back at me. I shook my head and shrugged.

'If you think so. Wait here, I'll go and fetch her' I said

'Wait what?' Jake asked

'It's not far' I replied

I turned and took off at a jog. It's didn't take me long to get back but just as I shoved the key in the lock I had the urge to look around. It felt like someone had been staring at the back of my neck. I couldn't see anyone though and I pushed the door open and Snow greeted me.

She picked up on my anxiety immediately and peered out of the gap in the door while I fetched her lead. I clipped her onto it and left the house, locking the door before taking off down the street.

Snow jogged by my side happily as I quickly made it back to where I'd left Jake. He'd found a bench to sit on and he'd taken his jacket off in the sun. I found I'd gotten warm from the jog and I peeled my hoody off and tied it around my waist.

Jake looked up and smiled at me and reached down to pat Snow's head. Snow whose tongue was lolling from the jog, threw her head back into his hand.

'You know, in that wooded bit over there, there's a pond' Jake said, pointing.

I looked to where he was pointing and grinned, wondering if he was thinking what I was thinking.

'Snow might appreciate a swim' Jake said, confirming what I was wondering.

I smiled as Snow sent me feelings of approval. I nodded to Jake and he got up with a grin. We followed him into the secluded area and found a hidden glen in the clearing.

I looked around before unclipping Snow. She bounded straight to the pond and paddled in it. She sent feelings of gratitude, I smiled.

'She thinks it's great' I blurted without thinking

Jake looked at me oddly 'Say what?'

'Oh-well...isn't it obvious what she's thinking?' I asked

He raised an eyebrow at me and I shrugged. He turned to watch Snow who had her nose in the water and was happily blowing bubbles.

I sat down and peeled off my pumps and socks. I left them where I'd taken them off and stood up. I paddled a bit in the water, Snow bounded around me excitedly.

Jake stepped into the water a few minutes later and Snow bounded around both of us. I tramped around, laughing when Snow jumped up me and left two wet paw prints up my stomach. Jake laughed at me and I got an evil idea.

I bent down and dipped my hand into the water. Jake watched me carefully, twigging almost instantly to what I was doing.

'Aw hell no' He shouted playfully, retreating a few steps.

I cupped my hand and splashed water up him before turned around and sprinting off, spraying water up my legs. I turned to see what he was doing only to find he'd caught up with me and then he dumped a handful of water over my head. I shrieked and then bent to pick up a handful of leaves but Jake actually grabbed me around my middle and hoisted my easily off the ground.

His sudden proximity bathed me in his unique smell and I was momentarily stunned before I realised he was tickling me and I let out a peal of sudden laughter.

'For a second there I thought you weren't ticklish' Jake teased, placing me back on my feet.

I spun and gave him a playful thump and a grin. We spent the next couple of hours walking around a small area of the park. I'd had no idea of the size of it until now. I went home that afternoon exhausted with an equally exhausted dog.

Unfortunately my clothes, again, had Jake's scent all over them. I sighed in exasperation as I tipped them and last night's into the washing machine. Emily and Nicky came home just as I'd set it up and started looking around in the fridge for anything to make dinner with.

'Leena!' Nicky cried happily

I picked him up, and swung him around before settling him onto my hip. Emily bent and peered curiously into the washing machine.

'There's nowhere near a full load in there' She said, folding her arms.

'I'm sorry Em, I had to wash my clothes though' I replied

'Why?' She asked

I put Nicky down and he ran off into the living room to play with toys. I leaned against the sideboard and Emily looked at me curiously.

'Jake has a very odd smell about him I can't place but it's not normal for a human' I replied

'What do you mean? Like he doesn't bathe?' Emily asked

'No! It's not an unpleasant smell really, actually it's quite nice. But it's gotten into my clothes from yesterday and today and I can't think straight' I replied

Emily raised an eyebrow 'If it's nice, what's wrong with it?'

'I don't know, it's not natural though. Humans tend to smell like things like perfume, cologne, fabric soaps and personal hygiene products' I replied

'Well, don't want to sound pervy but what does Jake smell like?' Emily asked

I didn't hesitate in my reply 'Like pure fire or something. It's so intense'

I pulled out a chicken and all the veg to go with it. Emily was still leaning on the side and looking at me.

'I don't think I've ever seen you get so flustered about something like this' She commented

'Yeah, and you know the Shar Pei Susan's father had with him. I went to contact it and it said and I quote 'Get the hell out of my head kid'! In English I might add, not canine!'

Emily looked at me oddly 'What do you think then?'

'Why are you asking me?' I asked

'You're the wolf! Have you ever come across anything like this?'

'No, I haven't'

'What are you going to do?'

'Act like I don't know anything. I can;t go around revealing myself at the smallest little things. New York is a huge city and seeing as Werewolves actually do exist what's to say that other things don't? I can't go around drawing attention to myself' I replied

Emily nodded agreeably and didn't comment anymore on the matter.

XxXxX

A few streets away Jake Long was on the way to his Grandfather's shop for his usual dragon activities but taking up a huge piece of his concentration was the girl who'd moved in next door.

He still felt stupid for staring at her but she'd looked so much like Rose it had been uncanny. Looking back now the fact that her hair was darker, her skin was tanner and her eyes were green should've given it away but he hadn't been able to help himself.

At the barbeque dinner, she seemed flustered around him and her posture went stiff often, mostly whenever he moved come to think of it. She also seemed heavily distracted and her dog didn't seem to leave her alone. She had clearly been uncomfortable but Jake couldn't help himself and he invited her to meet up with him.

When she had the first thing she did had got him completely shocked, the way she'd managed to knock him clean off his feet and she felt like she should've been made of metal. Even though she had been flying through the air at high speed he was sure he should've been able to withstand her slight looking weight. Instead she'd knocked him over and then managed to hoist him to his feet. He knew most girls wouldn't be able to do that and he honestly thought if she felt like it, she could probably give him a good run for his money in a fight. Which was more than he could say for most.

He entered the shop and then tripped straight over Fu Dog in his distraction. The dog yelped in alarm before turning on him.

'Watch it kid!' He told him

Jake sat up and rubbed his elbow, his Grandpa stood next to him, watching in concern.

'Sorry Fu, I was kind of distracted' Jake apologised

'And what, young dragon, could have caused you to be so distracted?' Lao Shi asked

'It's Selena, you know the girl who's moved in next door' Jake said

Fu sat up straight 'Go on' he said

'Well, I don't think she's entirely human' Jake said uneasily

At this both Lao Shi and Fu had given Jake full attention.

'What do you mean?' Lao Shi asked

'Well she managed to knock me completely off my feet and then practically drag me back up all by herself. She doesn't look it but she's completely solid' Jake said

Lao Shi sat thoughtfully until Fu Dog put his hand up like a naughty child about to own up to something.

'I probably should've said sooner but she mentally contacted me at the dinner yesterday' Fu said 'In canine'

'What do you mean, in canine?' Jake asked

'Animals mostly speak in their own languages, cats speak felinese, dogs speak canine that sort of thing. Humans can't but she did' Fu explained

'I don't understand. Does that make her some sort of animal linguist or something?' Jake asked

'I'm not sure what it makes her young one but we'd best keep an eye on her' Lao Shi said, his voice and facial expression dark.

XxXxX

Oooo, what's going to happen? I'm not sure yet, it's still a work in progress. Anyway, review please, it makes progress so much easier when you know people are actually paying attention.

Thanks Major Simi for reviewing both previous chapters, and this chapter in it's original version (It didn't load the italic bit for some reason :/) *insert smiley face here*